Cessna 172N accident near Springtown, Texas, March 24, 2022

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting an instructional flight. The instructor stated that, about 7 minutes after departure and while the airplane was in level flight at 3,500 ft mean sea level, the engine sputtered and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The instructor assumed control of the airplane from the student pilot at that time. She performed several troubleshooting steps; however, engine power was not restored. During the descent, the propeller windmilled and, according to the instructor, “the engine would catch” randomly and “operate for a few moments,” but the engine would lose power each time. The instructor also stated that, during a discussion with the student pilot, he indicated that, when he pulled the throttle to idle, the engine “would smooth out somewhat, but would start missing” when the throttle was pushed forward. The instructor executed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to the development of carburetor icing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was uncontaminated fuel available in the engine and that there was no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, the reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.